Spindle stop



Feb. 21, 1961 H. COLLINS 2,972,219

v SPINDLE STOP Filed Aug. 14, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 H. COLLINS SPINDLESTOP Feb. 21, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 14, 1958 United StatesPatent SPINDLE STOP Henry Collins, 35 Lyon St., Pawtucket, RJ.

Filed Aug. 14, 1958, Ser. No. 754,957

2 Claims. (Cl. 57-88) This invention relates to thread winding apparatusof a type wherein strands of yarn are directed from a source to arotating bobbin for winding upon the latter. It is more particularlyconcerned with novel and practical means for automatically stopping thewinding operations when one of the strands breaks.

A further object of this invention is to provide in thread windingapparatus means for stopping rotation of the spindle carrying the bobbinon which the thread is being wound, without stopping the motor driveassociated with the spindle.

The invention is subject to wideapplication. It is here illustrated inan arrangement including conventional yarn twisting mechanism. In thisassociation, single strands of yarn are led from a plurality of packagesover break detecting devices to the twisting mechanism. The severalstrands issue from the twister as a multi-ply thread which passes inusual manner for winding about a rotating bobbin. When a broken stranddevelops, the detecting mechanism operates to close a switch to energizean electro-magnetic device. The latter functions to stop rotation of thebobbin without stopping the motor driving the bobbin.

A feature of the invention is a particular arrangement of the spindlecarrying the bobbin with the motor drive, whereby the spindle is readilyand in a simple manner disengaged from the latter.

Another feature of the invention is an electro-magnetic arrangementwhich functions automatically when a break in a strand of yarn occurs,to not only disengage the spindle from the motor drive, but also tosimultaneously stop the winding operation.

A more particular object of the invention is, therefore,to provide anelectro-magnetic arrangement which functions upon the occurrence of abroken strand of yarn in a winding operation, to automatically disengagethe spindle carrying the winding bobbin from an associated motor drive,and to simultaneously stop rotation of the bobbin. V a Another object isto provide an electro-magnetic devicehavin'g'the foregoing functions,and which has a,

certain association and construction of components as to provide anovel, highly eflicient and practical device for the purposes intendedherein.

The advantages of the invention-are many. It represents a decidedadvance in theart. In yarn twisting and winding apparatus whereinseveral strands issueas a single thread for Winding about a bobbin, itis important to be able to immediately stop further winding asxsoon as abroken thread occurs. This avoids defective windings, and thenecessity-of unwinding the latter. The advantages of time, labor, andexpense saved notonly in avoiding defective windings, but also instopping the winding operationiwithout the necessity of stopping themotor drive,

serve to speed operations and to result in better and more economicalgoods.

.Theinvention further: lies notonly in the general organization andconstruction of its various components,

2,972,219 Patented Feb. '21, 1961 but also in their cooperativeassociation with one another to eifect the results intended.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of this invention willappear more fully hereinafter from a consideration of the detaileddescription which follows, taken together with the accompanying drawingswherein an embodiment of the invention is illustrated. It is to beexpressly understood, however, that the drawings are for purposes ofillustration and description, and are not to be construed as definingthe limits of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view of a thread winding apparatus embodying the invention:

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail illustrating a modified arrangernent in theelectro-magnetic device;

Figs. 5 and 6 show further modifications in the electromagnetic device;Fig. 5 being a bottom plan of the base plate; and Fig. 6 being a sectionin elevation further showing the modification; and

Fig. 7 is a section in elevation showing a further modification in theelectro-magnetic device.

in the several drawings similar reference numerals serve to identifysimilar parts. i i

In describing the invention in further detail, reference is directed tothe several drawings; now, particularly to Figs. 1 to 3 wherein aplurality of conventional yarn packages 1 are shown, from each of whichleads a strand 2 of yarn. Each strand is individually led over aseparate break detecting device 3. The latter includes a wire 4 pivotedto a support 5. The wire element has a crook or V bend 5 at its oppositeend through which the yarn passes to conventional twisting mechanism,symbolically shown at 7. The several strands issue from the twister as asingle multi-ply thread 8 which is directed for winding about a rotatingbobbin 9. The various devices for guiding the yarn, keeping ittensioned, and the like in a winding operation are not shown, it beingunderstood that such devices and their location are clear to thoseskilled in the art. 7

The tension provided in the winding process by a strand 2 on the wireelement 4 of the associated detecting device pivots the latter againstthe tension or" a light spring 11, so that the free end 12 of the wireelement which serves as one contact member of a switch is clear of asecond 16, which is journalled at its lower'end 17 in a supportingstandard 18. The spindle is fitted for rotation in the inner race 19 ofa bearing member. Mounted for rotation on the outer race 21 of thebearing is'a belt driven pulley 22. The drive belt 23 isdriven by asuitable motor, not shown. A bushing 24 about "the spindle spaces thebearing member and the associated pulley a desired distance above thebase of thestandard 18. r

. The pulley'has a relatively broad annular top end 25 on which isbonded a friction ring 25. -Located on the spindle in spaced relation tothe pulley member is a' bobbin support 27. This includes a cylindricaldepending body portion '28, which is press fitted on the spindle forrotation with the latter. Unitary with the top end of this. body,portion 28 is a platform or rest 29 of rela tively greater diameter.-The upper portion of the spindle prciects axially through thisplatto'rmsufficiently taper- 3 mit a bobbin 9 to be received thereon.The platform serves as a rest for the bobbin. It has a transverse rib 31on its upper surface, which engages in a complementary slot 32 formed inthe base end of the bobbin;

whereby the bobbin rotates as a unit with the spindle.

"The body portion 28 of thebobbin support depends down the spindle inclose proximity to the pulley. Vertically slidable on the body portion28 is a brake member 33. This comprises a cylindrical upper piece 34which has a slide fit on'mernber 28, and a disc plate 35 of relativelygreater diameter jointed about the bottom end of the upper piece 34. Thediameter of the disc plate 35corresponds to that of the top end of thepulley member.

The disc plate 35 normally rests in frictional engage ment with thefriction ring 26 mounted at the top of'the pulley. A pair of pins 36depending from the underside of the bobbin platform 29 project freelyinto a pair of vertical slots 37 formed in'diarnetrically opposedportions of the wall of the slide piece 34, whereby the slide member andspindle are locked for rotation as a unit. A space 38 normally existsbetween the ends of the pins and the bottom walls of the slots 37 so asto enable vertical slidable movement of the slide member 34. The upperend wall of the slide piece 34 is spaced below the underside of thebobbin rest '29, and provides a thickened wall on which rests a pressureplate 39. The latter has a pair of slots 41 to allow for free passage ofthe pins 36.

limited between the pressure plate and the underside of the bobbin rest29 is an annular spring 42 which normally acts through the pressureplate upon the slide piece 34 of the brake member 33 so as to hold thedisc plate of the latter in frictional engagement with the friction ring26; By the foregoing arrangement, rotation of the pulley member istransmitted through the brake member 33 and pins 36 to the spindle 1-6.

The brake member 33 serves as the armature of the electromagnetic device15. 'Energization of the latter lifts the brake member 33 free ofthefriction ring 26, whereupon the pulley continues to rotate on theouter race 21 ofits bearing, disabled from transmitting rotary motion tothe spindle shaft.

thesurface of a base plate 51. The latter provides an axial openingwhich freely surrounds the upper piece 34 of the brake member. Theannular bottom endwall 52 of the core member 44 extends through theaxial opening in the base plate tothe level of the unders'urface of thelatter. Thecore provides a cut 53 in its'periphery in which theinnerwall the .base'plate is jointed. The base' plateisjof relativelygreater diameter than the surrounding'wall 45 of the core member, andprovides a marginal extension 54 which is rigidly 'mounted to 'thestandard 18 as by bolts 55.

The spindle shaft '16 is preferably formed of hardened steel forreasons, among others, of obtaining high "rotat- V ingeiiiciency andbalance in its bearings. However, it is deslred that when the.electro-magnetic device is ener-' grzedthe flux field will not spread tothe spindle shaft. Magnetic flux'in the spindle shaft is -nndesirable asresidualmagnetisrnin the latter. may affect the rotating efficiency. ofthe spindle in its bearings. Accordingly, the

bobbin support 27, as well as'the upper piece 34 of: the

flanges 46, 4. and the surrounding wall 45 are of ferromagneticmaterial, preferably of high permeability and low retentivity. The discplate of the brake member, as well as a ring of equally spaced plugs 56press fitted in the base plate 51 are of similar magnetic material. Theupper faces of the plugs are flush with the surface of the base plateand underlie the bottom end wall 4? of the shell 50. The plugs aredesirably of slightly greater diameter than the thickness of the wall 49so as to extend beyond opposite sides of the latter and to insure fullcontact with the wall 49. When the core winding is energized, the ringofrplugs form one pole of an electro magnet, and the bottom end wall 52of the core forms the other pole. A relatiyely short gap 57 separatesthe underlying disc plate 35 from the base plate 51, wherebyenergization of the core winding causes an instant attraction of thedisc plate to the pole elements. The flux path created is confined tothe disc plate 35 through the pole elements. To further avoid any fluxfield passing from the disc plate to the spindle, the inner annular wallof the disc plate is bonded by 'a joint, as at 53, to the peripheralsurface of the upper piece 34 forming the other portion of the brakemember.

New, in the operation of the apparatus described, whenthe'electromagnetic device is energized as a result of'a broken strandof yarn causing one of the detecting devices. Sto close an energizingcircuit, the brake member 33 is magnetically lifted upwards. Thisaction, as previously stated, disengages the spindle shaft from therotating pulley. Further, when the disc plate of the brake member isdrawn to the poles of the magnetic device, the flat upper surface of thedisc plate limits against the brass underside of the base plate 51,whereupon rota tion of the brake member and the associated spindle shaftand bobbin member stops. The braking action on the spindle and bobbin isimmediate, and further wind ing immediately ceases, so that there is nodefective thread winding made upon the bobbin. The pulley member, thoughdisabled from rotating the spindle shaft, nevertheless continuesrotating under the power of its associated power driven belt.Thisenables the broken strand of yarn to be repaired without turning offthe motor power. I 7

' Fig. 4 presents a modified form of the invention, wherein theplugmembers are varied'in' form,'as indicated at 59, and a friction disc61 is bonded to the underside of the base plate 51. In this arrangement,whenthe armature'disc. plate 35 is drawn upwards, it frictionallyengages'the added friction disc 61 and rotation of the disc plate 35 isbrought to an abrupt halt. Because of the thickness of the addedfriction disc, and so as'to maintain a-- close gap between the armaturedisc 51 and the poles of the magnetic device, the plug elements projectbelow the base plate 51. They project a little short of the bottom levelof the added friction disc, and are enlarged to provide a greatermagnetic area to the armature disc. By this arrangement the armaturedisc 35 is attracted "by the plug elements 59, and is frictionallyengaged by thef'added friction disc without coming into rubbing contactwith the plug "elements.

In the variation shown in Figs. 5' and 6, the plug ele- .ments,indicated at 56 in Figs. 1 and 2,'are replaced by tongues 62 dependingfrom the bottom'end 49 of the I into theslots so as to be flushfwith theunderside of the .base plate, asjn Fig. 6; or they may depend belowfthebase plate as inFig 7 wherein an added friction. disc filis'provided. iI

:While an embodiment of the invention'has been illustratedandjdesc-ribed in detail, it isto be expressly understood that theinvention is not limited thereto. 'Varibrake memben and the base plate51 are formed of non we I p v I I V r 'of thepartswithout departing fromthe sprrlt andscope magnetic material, such as brass; The shelljSiljbfjJthe electromagnetic device, comprising the 'core 44,,jtop

ous chang esi can be ma de in the design and arrangement be theinvention, as the same will now beiunderstood by those skilled in theart; and it is my intent therefore to claim the invention not only asshown and described, but also in all such forms and modificationsthereof as may be reasonably construed to be within the spirit of theinvention and the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A spindle stop comprising a bearing member having an inner race andan outer race, a spindle journalled in a standard and fitted in theinner race, a power driven pulley rotatably mounted on the outer race, aslide member longitudinally slidable on the spindle, means engaging thespindle with'the slide member for rotation as a unit, the slide memberhaving a normal position on the spindle in engagement with the pulleyfor rotation of the spindle with the pulley, a brake member in opposedspaced relation to the pulley, and the slide member having an actuatedposition on the spindle free of the pulley and in restrained engagementwith the brake member whereby rotation of the spindle following freeingof the slide member from the pulley is restrained.

2. The combination in thread winding apparatus of the characterdescribed of: a yarn twisting device for twisting a strand from each ofa plurality of yarn packages into a multi-ply thread, means fordetecting a break in any one of the strands during travel of the strandsfrom the packages to the twisting device, a rotatable spindle carrying abobbin for receiving the thread from the twister, a power driven pulley,means normally engaging the spindle with the pulley for rotation of thespindle, and means responsive to the detecting means upon the latterdetecting a broken strand of yarn to disengage the spindle from thepulley and simultaneously brake subsequent rotation of the spindle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,803,106 Lindemann et a1 Aug. 20, 1957

